Smart consumers become the final safety inspectors

If you skip the inspection – you aren’t alone. Research backs this up, with 68% of consumers having a high confidence level in product safety. However, even with safety standards and recall processes in place, recent testing by the European Commission’s Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products (CASP) discovered many safety issues with products on the shelf in the EU. Additionally, Safety Gate, the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, saw a 22% increase in alerts year-on-year between 2023 and 2024.

To reduce the risk of product safety issues that can damage your home or injure loved ones, it’s important to view yourself as a key link in the product safety chain. By taking a few moments to put on your safety inspector hat and following the recommendations set out below, you make a big difference in product safety.

Playing a vital role in the safety chain

As the final inspector of a product, you hold the power to improve safety and protect your family. Using Safety Gate and the Consumer Safety Gateway, you have the information and sources needed to make informed consumer decisions. By taking these extra steps, you can reduce the risk of an unsafe product making it into the home and, if one does, prevent it from affecting another family.

Before purchasing a product

After reviewing the product details and reviews, the next step before purchasing should be looking for product issues on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. It provides warnings and updates on recalls about dangerous non-food products. Safety Gate makes it easy to find information with various search options, including product, country of origin, and date of the alert. The alerts provide all the details needed to make the right product safety decision for your family, including the specific products, description of the product and measures taken by authorities or the economic operator. 

After noticing safety concerns in a product

If you notice issues during the safety check, the first step is setting the product in a safe place away from children and then stop using the product. Next, file a report on the Consumer Safety Gateway which notifies the national market surveillance authority of the issue and starts an investigation. Note that the authorities will not intervene in a specific case or contact you directly. The safety of other families depends on each person taking the time to report all potential product issues to the authorities.

Common products with safety issues

While safety issues can occur in any product, recent testing by the European Commission and national market surveillance authorities highlighted concerns about three common types of products. 

Children’s toys

By taking extra care when purchasing and giving toys to children, you can keep them safe during playtime. When purchasing, verify the age recommendations and only offer toys that are appropriate for their age. Before playtime, inspect each toy to ensure that there are no loose parts or sharp edges that can hurt the child. Once playtime starts, supervise all kids with their toys to make sure they play safely and use the toy as intended. Be sure to also safely store toys when not in use to prevent mold, breakage or other damage.

The recent testing found that slime toys have a high number of issues, resulting in 24 new Safety Gate notifications. The risks with slime toys revolve around the release of boron, which can cause health issues, including fertility problems, skin irritation, and respiratory issues. When purchasing slime, even popular brands trending on social media, check the Safety Gate alerts to see that the toy only contains safe materials. Make sure that all kids using slime are old enough to not eat the slime and that everyone washes their hands both before and after playing. 

Childcare goods

While it’s tempting to use hand-me-down items to save money, look at Safety Gate for recalls before using any pre-owned products. Because childcare goods, such as highchairs and cribs, are often based on the child’s size, verify both minimum and maximum height and weight before using them. Since safety issues can also develop over time, look over the childcare item before each use for signs of wear, cracks or damage.

The product testing highlighted baby soothers as a common product with safety issues, especially if used incorrectly. As a result of testing, 21 baby soothers were recalled from end users, 21 were banned from the market, and 6 were withdrawn. Parents should purchase a soother holder from a reputable seller instead of attaching a string to a soother. Additionally, children should only use soothers when supervised by an adult. Letting a child use a soother with a holder while they are sleeping increases strangulation risks. 

Electronics

Electronics are often the source of safety issues due to the risk of electrical shock, fires, and burns. When buying electronics online, look at the photo to make sure you can see the instruction manual, CE marking, safety warning and manufacturer information. Before using any electronic product, carefully inspect all cords for any wear or damage and only use products in good working order.

E-cigarettes are another type of product susceptible to safety issues. When testing 58 e-cigarettes, inspectors found that 67% of the samples did not meet at least one area of compliance. Before purchasing e-cigarettes, determine the language of the warnings, and only purchase products with instructions that you can read. Also, review the ingredient list for nicotine or dangerous oily substance in vapes, such as medium-chain triglyceride oil. Next, look at the puff count; claims higher than 600 for a 2ml tank may be noncompliant, misleading or both.

Because e-cigarettes are designed to be attractive to kids, both in flavor and packaging, they always store e-cigarettes where children cannot reach. Additionally, return electronic and electrical waste for free to a facility that handles waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).  

Protecting yourself and your family

While it’s easy to assume products on the shelf are safe for use, recent testing confirms that this isn’t always the case. By adopting a more critical approach to safety and using available resources, you hold the power to improve safety for both your family and the community. 

By following the recommendations set out in this piece, you turn everyday purchases into opportunities to protect your household. Resources like Safety Gate provide crucial information before you buy, while the Consumer Safety Gateway gives you a direct channel to report concerns, creating a powerful feedback loop that benefits everyone.

Your vigilance as the final safety inspector both protects your loved ones from potential harm and contributes to a safer marketplace for all European consumers. Together, these small but meaningful actions transform you from a passive consumer into an active participant in product safety, proving that the most effective protection often begins with you.

Find out more:
1: What is CASP? The Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products: https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate/#/screen/pages/casp
2: Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products: https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate/#/screen/home